Women now constitute over a quarter of accredited beer sommeliers, signalling a shift towards greater inclusivity in the industry
The number of women earning certification as beer sommeliers has reached a new milestone, reflecting gradual progress in addressing gender imbalance within the beer trade and expanding opportunities across the sector.
Women now make up more than a quarter of accredited beer sommeliers, a small but notable shift in a profession that has long mirrored the wider beer trade’s gender imbalance. The Guild of Beer Sommeliers said five more women qualified this month, lifting the number of female certificate holders to 63 out of 237. The latest cohort includes Louise Watson of Thwaites Brewery, Emma Moore, an independent educator, Gina Fletcher of Hogs Back Brewery, brewer and judge Eva Rainey, and Laura Plum of St Austell Brewery.
For advocates in the field, the significance is not just the headline figure but the range of experience the new entrants bring. Annabel Smith, a beer sommelier, told the drinks business that beer knowledge has often been overshadowed by wine, despite the category’s breadth of styles and flavours. She said women can help make beer culture feel more approachable, more inventive and more inclusive.
That matters in an industry where women remain underrepresented in senior and technical roles. Reporting by the drinks business in 2024, drawing on British Beer and Pub Association data, found women held only 17% of board seats and 7% of chief executive posts in the sector. The Society of Independent Brewers has also said women account for around 30% of brewery employees but only 3% of brewing roles, underscoring how uneven progress remains across the trade.
Alex Barlow, chief examiner at the Guild of Beer Sommeliers, said the credential is becoming more important as the beer market evolves internationally and consumers seek better guidance. The qualification is intended to widen access to careers in brewing, beer education and hospitality, and the latest results suggest that, at least in this corner of the industry, that message is beginning to land.
